Chapter 120: "Elopement" |
Zhang Shutong embraced Gu Qiumian.
That familiar, rich fragrance came to his side once more.
But immediately after, his body toppled backward beyond his control.
Zhang Shutong knew this was a bit embarrassing, but there was nothing he could do—he really had no strength left.
In the end, it was Gu Qiumian who pulled him back, barely managing to steady himself.
The two of them gazed at each other under the night sky.
Gu Qiumian's hands were still clasped around his neck.
And his own hands were wrapped around her waist.
Gu Qiumian moved her lips, as if wanting to say something, but in the end only reached out her hand, seemingly wanting to touch his forehead.
Zhang Shutong dodged slightly, saying in a low voice.
He turned around to lead the way. How could he still be burning up? After being blown by the night wind the whole way here, even the most scalding forehead should have cooled down.
Glancing toward the study, he could only see the side view—lights were dimly lit there.
He hoped the villa's soundproofing was good enough, that Chairman Gu hadn't heard the commotion outside.
Fortunately, no bodyguards came out to smoke again. Zhang Shutong checked the ground—the snow in the courtyard had been cleared away long ago, so there wouldn't be any footprints left behind.
He silently pointed at the main gate, signaling Gu Qiumian to go first.
Right now he was maintaining maximum alertness—any careless mistake could ruin everything at the last moment.
He swept the spot where he'd just been standing with the sole of his shoe, eliminating the last trace. On the way here, he'd already reminded Gu Qiumian to remember to close the curtains and shut the window before leaving. Looking up, the young girl had done everything properly.
Then the two of them carefully crossed through the courtyard, arriving at the fence. He pulled Gu Qiumian's hand into the blind spot and gently closed the door.
Another electronic notification sound.
As if announcing the successful conclusion of this operation.
Only then did they have time to speak.
"Did you bring your phone?"
"Of course I brought it..."
The girl said softly.
Her decisiveness seemed to exist only in that moment when she jumped down from the terrace. Once they were actually walking together, she didn't know what to say anymore.
Zhang Shutong turned on his flashlight, illuminating the path ahead, and proactively asked:
"Are your feet cold?"
"A little. What about you?"
"My feet aren't cold."
"Who asked about your feet? I'm asking how high your fever is."
"Didn't measure it."
"Let me feel."
Gu Qiumian tugged at the corner of his clothes.
Zhang Shutong shook his head, telling her he was fine:
"Want to switch to my shoes?"
"No." She muttered, "Who's as stupid as you? It's not like I don't know to wear socks."
"I..."
"I told you so many times I'm fine, why won't you just listen?"
"..."
"Why are you running around outside at night instead of sleeping properly? It's so cold. I was already getting ready to sleep, you think I wanted to come out with you?"
"..."
"It's just that you've been lying to me all day today. I hate liars the most. You're so annoying."
"..."
"Also, ever since that day you've been saying you'd take me out, making it sound so serious, but when I ask you, you won't say..."
"..."
"Don't blame me, okay?"
"Blame you for what?" Zhang Shutong was startled, not expecting her to suddenly say such a thing. "Who's blaming you?"
Gu Qiumian didn't respond, but instead asked:
"You're not lying to me this time?"
"Not lying to you. What would I have to blame you for?" Zhang Shutong turned back, looking into her eyes. "I'm more worried you'll blame me."
"I don't blame you either. Let's hurry up then." She said softly.
They soon reached the mountain road.
He knew Gu Qiumian couldn't walk fast, so he slowly walked ahead.
With each step he took, Gu Qiumian would step into the footprints he left behind.
Behind them was the palace-like building ablaze with lights. The night was like a tide, and they traveled through the thick darkness, with the cold wind like waves rising up from time to time.
The shoes made crunching sounds as they stepped on the snow. Zhang Shutong had forgotten who told him that walking in the snow was romantic.
He hadn't believed it before, and he wasn't overturning that view now either, but at least it didn't feel particularly bad.
After a while, Gu Qiumian spoke again:
"Zhiruo called me when you came."
"Who?"
"That girl with the short hair. I didn't know before that she'd added you as a friend. She said she originally wanted to provoke you a bit, but didn't expect you were at the hospital getting an IV. If I'd known you were at the hospital then, I wouldn't have called you..."
"Whether you called or not, I would have come anyway."
"I figured as much." Gu Qiumian said softly. "Idiot."
Zhang Shutong had wanted to say "you're not much smarter either," but having recently discovered that Gu Qiumian really wasn't stupid, he felt too embarrassed to say it.
But why would someone who wasn't stupid come out with him?
After thinking it over, Zhang Shutong said earnestly:
"Thank you for believing in me like this."
But it would have been better not to say it—once he did, the soft flesh at his waist got pinched:
"Who said I believed you?"
Gu Qiumian finally glared at him:
"You really think I believed what you said? That if I stayed home something bad would happen? That I ran out to take refuge?"
"Then what else?" Zhang Shutong was confused too.
He thought to himself—I was just moved for so long, I even handed over my duties to your dog, promising to be a good underling, and it turns out you didn't believe me at all?
Gu Qiumian said:
"Now I have two more accounts to settle with you. Does your mom know you're riding around outside with a fever?"
"Uh, she's not home..."
"So what do you think I came out with you so late for? You still want to take me running around more? I came to make sure you go home obediently and sleep!"
After Gu Qiumian finished speaking, she kept staring at him, as if she wouldn't continue walking unless he nodded.
Zhang Shutong had no choice but to agree, even though he hadn't been planning to take her running around anyway—but now it seemed like she came out to protect him.
He was just about to ask when he'd incurred those two more debts when, out of the corner of his eye, he caught a flash of light below on the mountain road.
—It was the two bodyguards' car returning.
Gu Qiumian immediately became a bit anxious, grabbing his hand to run back.
Only then did Zhang Shutong realize she'd actually been very nervous the whole time.
She just hadn't shown it easily.
Come to think of it, sneaking out behind her father's back, behind an entire houseful of people, without even considering how to get back—how could she not be nervous?
When she'd retorted that he didn't need to worry about it, what she meant wasn't that she could handle it herself, but that she didn't want to think about all that—it was purely a rash decision.
Gu Qiumian had always been an emotional girl.
Zhang Shutong quickly said don't panic, don't panic—I already considered this situation on my way here, I've already found a hiding place.
Zhang Shutong remembered what the little nurse had said, that he shouldn't just talk big. To humor her a bit, he said didn't expect that, did you? I still have a trump card. Past experience proved this phrase had special effectiveness on her. Sure enough, after hearing it, Gu Qiumian looked a bit dazed and no longer panicked. She suppressed the smile at the corners of her lips and glared at him:
"What time do you think this is!"
They came to a recessed area in the mountain wall.
When he came up, he'd still been carrying that black down jacket—originally in case Gu Qiumian got cold—but now it served as camouflage. After shaking it open and holding it on the outside, even if the car's headlights shone on it, unless you looked carefully you'd only think it was a rock.
The two of them pressed tightly together, their breathing close at hand. Gu Qiumian's eyes sparkled in the darkness. She softly exhaled warm breath, and he could feel the rise and fall of her chest.
Neither of them paid any more attention to the car that drove past.
They came down from the mountain road close to eleven o'clock.
Only then did Zhang Shutong remember to ask:
"How did you know I had a fever?" Just now when they were hiding, he'd been covering his mouth and nose the whole time, afraid that being too close would transmit his cold to her.
"Teacher Song told me. I was going to ask him how he knew you were running around outside."
Zhang Shutong roughly understood what had happened.
"Get on the bike."
"Mm."
Once the bike started moving, Zhang Shutong asked her:
"Want to get some late-night snacks?"
"No, let's go home."
"We might not be able to go home—my bike's almost out of gas." Zhang Shutong explained. "Is it okay to stay at the hospital for a bit? They're open at night, and there are beds in the wards."
"Whatever."
"Aren't you the one who hates that word the most?"
Gu Qiumian lightly pressed her face against his back:
"Anywhere is fine, as long as you stop riding around on this bike."
Zhang Shutong twisted the throttle.
......
They stopped the bike at a department store that still had its lights on.
Although it was in the city district, the streets were empty and deserted.
Or rather, this was the only place still open within a radius of several miles.
The supermarket had only one door open and only one light on, mainly serving men who came out to buy cigarettes at night.
"I'll buy a bottle of coffee to stay alert. Wait for me."
After speaking, Zhang Shutong kicked down the stand, letting Gu Qiumian wait on the bike.
He walked into the supermarket. The boss behind the counter lazily yawned and lifted his head:
"Give me the prescription first, have you paid..."
But before finishing, his eyes suddenly widened:
"Wait, why are you back again?"
Zhang Shutong felt a bit awkward. He could hardly say "I have nowhere to go now, so I can only bring a girl to stay at your place for a while."
Speaking of which, public hospitals don't kick people out, right?
Before he could speak, the little nurse immediately stood up, as if facing a great enemy:
"You want another IV? Let me tell you upfront, I'm not giving you one. This sister only transferred here a year ago, just finished her internship period. If you run off again, that counts as a medical accident. Why don't you go harm someone else tomorrow..."
Before finishing her words, she saw Gu Qiumian sitting outside:
"Oh..."
She froze again.
"Is this the girl you mentioned?"
Zhang Shutong nodded.
"She's so pretty..." She shook her head, feeling like that girl was completely out of place here. "Wait, I mean how did you actually bring her back?"
Now the little nurse's eyes looking at him were full of admiration.
"It's not for an IV," Zhang Shutong finally found a chance to speak. "Can we rest here for a bit?"
"By regulations it's not allowed, but..." The little nurse tugged at his clothes, saying softly, "You're sort of half my apprentice, so I'll make an exception this once. But you two can't stay here—the director will come do rounds later, and besides, what kind of guy brings a girl to a place like this? I'll find you two a single patient room..."
Zhang Shutong quickly thanked her.
"Don't thank me yet." She smiled and turned her keys. "Since you didn't just take her straight home, I can see you're a good young man of the new era."
Zhang Shutong's phone rang again.
It was Ruoping calling.
Right now it was 11:10.
Still fifty minutes until midnight.